| Synopsis | Review | Quotes |

First Aired On: July 17, 1998
Written By: Jonathan Glassner, Brad Wright
Directed By: Martin Wood
Guest Stars: Dwight Scultz (The Gamekeeper), Teryl Rothery (Dr. Fraiser), Jay Acovone (Kawalsky)

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Synopsis: SG-1 travels to P7J 989, supposedly home to an advanced culture. They find a world covered with beautiful gardens...and machines with human beings inside them. While examining several empty machines, SG-1 is sucked into them. Metal doohickeys attach to various portions of their bodies, and they fall unconscious...sort of. Next thing we see, O'Neill and Teal'c are wearing military garb and are confronted by some people very familiar to O'Neill, including Kawalsky, who died during "The Enemy Within." They are forced to go through a doomed mission to remove a Russian agent that took place in 1982 in East Germany over and over again. Meanwhile, Daniel and Carter have been transported to the New York Museum of Art, where Daniel runs into his parents. A weak chain lifting a heavy stone ceiling for an Egyptian exhibit causes the ceiling to fall on them, and they die while Daniel is forced to watch, unable to help them. Back to O'Neill and Teal'c, who go through the mission yet again before being confronted by a man called the Gamekeeper, who tells them that O'Neill now has the opportunity to try all the variations of the mission he had been playing over and over in his head since the event happened. In the background watch some black-clothed, black-veiled people. O'Neill doesn't want to play. Cut to Daniel and Carter. Daniel tries yet again, unsuccessfully, to save his parents from their horrible fate. Carter tells him that the world they're seeing can't be real--it's probably a virtual reality world. Enter the Gamekeeper, who tells him he can keep trying to fix the events until the result changes. Like O'Neill, Daniel also doesn't want to play the game. The Gamekeeper gets ticked at their unwillingness to play, and brings O'Neill and Teal'c to the New York Museum of Art. They talk a bit, try to convince the Gamekeeper to let them go home, he refuses and wants them to stay and be entertainment for his black-clothed "residents," SG-1 insist, and finally he gets so frustrated with them that he sends them home...maybe. They get checked out by Dr. Fraiser, talk to Hammond, and find they're still in a virtual reality world. They run into the black-clothed people who want to see the real world. SG-1 chases after Hammond-turned-into-the-Gamekeeper, goes through a door with a weird symbol on it, and find themselves looking at themselves in the virtual reality machines. They were freed by going through the exit door. Anyway, the residents are freed and SG-1 goes home. Any questions? :)

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Review: 7/10
Plot: The entire idea of being trapped in a virtual reality world is really pretty cool, but I wish I could say I found this particular plotline satisfying. The entire episode didn't really gel for me, and the plot wasn't as cohesive as I'd hoped.

Realism: Ha. That's funny. I have a couple bones to pick with the "realism" department of this episode. One, O'Neill's deepest pain was a failed mission where a friend died?! Um, excuse me, what about his son's death? I mean, while he got to "see" his son in "Cold Lazarus," I somehow doubt that that one encounter fully fixed any grief he felt over the whole tragedy. Granted, the failed mission was heartbreaking to watch happen over and over again, but it was a single mission that happened 17 years ago. I personally think it was just a ploy to bring Kawalsky back, and while that's fine (gotta love Kawalsky :) ), it just didn't feel right. Second bone to pick: the entire ending. Ok, guys, hate to tell you this but O'Neill and especially Daniel have just faced some pretty tragic images. Can you imagine having to endure watching a pretty darn horrifying death three or four times, come to the conclusion you can't do anything about it, and have to watch it anyway? The Gamekeeper picked some pretty rotten memories to toss at to these two guys. And then the ending...he caused all this pain and grief in Daniel and O'Neill simply because he didn't want the residents to pick the flowers?! Oh, please. At least give us an ending that better explains the reason they had to endure everything they did. While I didn't mind the first half of the episode--O'Neill and Daniel angst is usually a plus for me--at least make it be for a good cause. The ending was completely unsatisfying.

Action: Mission scene at the beginning is pretty good action, although by the second time through it it gets a bit boring. For some reason, the chase of the Gamekeeper through SGC was more exciting action for me.

Angst Level: Whoa, yeah. Angst galore. O'Neill gets to suffer through a failed mission on which his friend dies. But the most visible angst is the twisted, painful-to-watch expression on Daniel's face after he watches his parents die for the first time. Michael Shanks gives us some excellent angst over Daniel's parents' death in his scenes. You can really feel his pain.

Special Effects: The Hammond-turning-into-the-Gamekeeper shot was well done, as were the curly portal things that transported O'Neill and Teal'c to the New York Museum of Art--you can still see the outdoor scene around them until the portal is gone.

Set and Costumes: The set for the New York Museum of Art was neat, as were the machines SG-1 was grabbed into. The black outfits and veils of the residents made it look like the people were either nuns or in mourning. Of course, my personal favorite was the Gamekeeper's outfit--shiny, sparkly, and just plain cool. They could make a profit off of that shiny hat he wore!

O'Neill factor: Woo hoo, O'Neill angst! We learn a bit about his past, but nothing really new. In the early '80s he was involved with a lot of secret missions to dispose of potential threats to global security, or something like that. He also gets the great Hammond interrogation scene--checking behind Hammond's ears and knocking Hammond on the head is hilarious!

Daniel factor: Awesome emotion displayed by Michael Shanks. We really feel Daniel's pain at watching his parents die over and over again. We do learn how his parents died, and we can see where he acquired his love of archaeology, spending all his time in museums and such. It's also interesting to see that his parents might not have spent as much time with him as he probably needed. The poor guy's been alone longer than simply after his parents' death. Also interesting to see how Daniel regresses to acting like a child when dealing with his parents--telling them his leg was broken and that they had to come out now and take care of him. Some good insight into his child-like character.

Carter factor: Somewhat underused again, although it was great to see the continuity of her very recent experiences with Jolinar when the Gamekeeper told her he couldn't use her in the virtual reality world because the Goa'uld protected her. It's also nice to see her comforting Daniel after his parents die and trying to persuade him that it was only in his head and not reality.

Teal'c factor: Once again, Teal'c is underused, except for his attempts to help O'Neill through the doomed mission. And then there was the truly amusing scene where O'Neill pulls the hat off his head and finds Teal'c covered with hair. I think we all felt O'Neill's shock at seeing that sight!

Overall Team factor: They aren't really together until the second half of the episode, being split into an O'Neill/Teal'c team and a Daniel/Carter team through the first half. But their team spirit comes through at the end with the breakout from prison and their decision that Hammond was a fake.

My Thoughts: For the first 40 minutes I somewhat enjoyed the episode, although the scenes where O'Neill endures his friend's death and Daniel watches his parents die were rather painful to sit through. But as I mentioned in the "Realism" section above, the ending ruined the whole episode for me. It was fun at time--the character of the Gamekeeper was amusing and reminded me a lot of Harlan in "Tin Man," but fun wasn't what I wanted to see in this episode. I wanted to see them work through their pain and come out better for it at the end. The contrast between humor and horror in this episode just didn't mesh. Nice effort, and while the product is entertaining, it is very, very flawed.

Related Episodes: There's a reference to Carter's possession by Jolinar in "In the Line of Duty." Also a kinda-sorta reference to the Stargate movie, where it's mentioned that Daniel's parents died while he was still young.

Daniel Jackson's History/Linguistic/Mythology Lesson: Nope. None, although we do get a nice glimpse of the Egyptian section of the New York Museum of Art. Of course, seeing as I've never been there, I'm unsure whether it was an accurate representation or not.

Sam Carter's Physics Lesson: She talks a bit about time travel theories, and how the "current" time travel theory states that Daniel should have seen himself as a child or should've become a child again. That's how she determines it's an virtual reality, because Daniel's vision isn't consistent with those theories.

Important Stargate Information: None, except for learning that the Goa'uld have performed a few experiments with time travel, possibly leading to a future storyline...?

Alien Species/Background: The people on P7J 989 lived in the virtual reality world for about a thousand years because the world outside had at one time been destroyed. The Gamekeeper had created the machines and the technology that kept the people alive.

Important everyday life stuff we learn from Stargate: Flowers cause people with allergies to sneeze (no duh!). It's not fun to watch tragedies from your past be replayed over and over again before your eyes (no duh!). You can't change the past. Teal'c looks rather odd with hair.

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Quotes:
Carter: "This is beautiful."
O'Neill: "But where there's a garden, there's snakes."
Daniel: "And flowers." He sneezes. "Way too many flowers."

Carter: "I like what they've done with the place."
O'Neill, seeing one of the natives in the VR machine: "I'm not sure I like what the place has done to them."

O'Neill: "Teal'c, what the hell just happened to us?"

Kawalsky: "Why are you acting so spooked, Jack?"
O'Neill: "Maybe...because I am? You're both supposed to be dead."
John: "That's real cute, Jack."

John, about the mission: "This isn't the one that you and me die on."
O'Neill: "As a matter of fact, this is the one you die on."

O'Neill: "I'm either dreaming or hallucinating." John pinches him.
John: "Is that real enough for you, Jack?"
O'Neill: "Alright, how do you explain him? Does he look like a member of this team?" He pulls Teal'c's hat off and reveals a thick head of curly black hair.
John: "Tom has been on this team longer than you have."

Daniel: "Wait a minute. Wait a minute. This is the New York Museum of Art. I've been here many times. Many times."

Keeper, to O'Neill: "You must stop arguing and proceed with the mission. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Keeper."
O'Neill: "The keeper of what?"
Keeper: "The keeper of all that is around you. All that is, and all that might be."
Teal'c: "Why do you want us to proceed with this mission?"
Keeper: "Because it is that which you have always wanted."
O'Neill: "You've got to be kidding me. This was the most blown operation I've ever been involved with. What makes you think I want to watch my friends be killed over and over again?"
Keeper: "You have always wished to do it again in order to do it...differently."

Keeper: "You must go with them. It is the only way to evince the change which you have desired for so many years."
O'Neill: "I can't change the outcome if you keep changing the rules."

O'Neill: "Sit down, Teal'c. We're not playing this game."
Keeper: "Very well. Have it your way."
Teal'c: "I hope by doing nothing we are taking the correct action, O'Neill."
O'Neill: "So do I."

Daniel: "Oh, Sam, please, just tell me this isn't real."

Daniel: "You have to come out of there."
Daniel's father: "Danny. Go back outside."
Daniel: "Danny.... No, look, you have to come out right now because...because I've hurt myself. I hurt myself badly. I think I may have broken my leg. Now you have to come out right now and take care of me."

Carter: "Daniel, correct me if I'm wrong but I bet when this really happened you didn't have all this audience."

Daniel: "Oh super. So it takes one of the most tragic moments of my life and plays it over and over again."

Keeper: "Isn't this wonderful? Now you get the chance."
Daniel: "I beg your pardon?"
Carter: "The chance?"
Keeper: "The chance to relive your momentous event! To try the plethora of variations which have been weighing on your mind. To finally see if you can make a difference."
Daniel, eyes narrowing: "Who are you?"
Keeper: "Why, I am the Keeper, of course."
Daniel: "The keeper of...?"
Keeper: "The keeper of all that is, was, and will be in this place."
Carter: "Where exactly are we?"
Keeper: "I believe you call this the New York Museum of Art."
Carter: "No, no, no. Where are we in reality?"
Keeper: "Reality is in the eye of the beholder, is it not? You have always wished to go back and do things differently. I have given you that opportunity. Now go, make things right in this place."
Daniel: "And how do I...how do I do that?"
Keeper: "Well, if I told you that it wouldn't be any fun, would it?" He laughs.
Daniel, appalled: "FUN?! Th...th...that's what you think this is for me?! Fun watching this happen again and again?!"
Keeper: "There would be no pleasure from the Game if there were no...risk from the journey." Daniel's nightmare starts over and he decides to try it one last time.

Daniel, seeing his parents die for the third time: "DAMN YOU. Stop this game, NOW!"
Keeper: "Whatever for? You haven't explored all of your options yet."
Daniel: "Well, obviously my options are infinite and my solutions are zero. Now STOP IT..." He realizes something. "I won't play any more."
Keeper: "Ah, but you will. You will."
Carter: "Daniel..."
Daniel: "No."
Keeper: "You must try another alternative."
Daniel: "No."
Keeper: "You would allow your parents to suffer this awful death?"
Daniel: "I won't play your game."
Keeper: "You are indeed an obstinate race." He brings O'Neill and Teal'c to the museum with those two cool spiral thingys (complete with the outdoor background they had last been seen at).
O'Neill: "YOU! You guys alright?"
Daniel: "Well, I'm not really sure, to tell you the truth."
Teal'c: "What is this place?"
Daniel: "Oh, it's the New York Museum of Art."
Carter: "Actually, we think it's a simulation of the museum. I figure we're in some sort of virtual reality world created from our own minds. Or at least Daniel's."
Keeper: "You are a stubborn, unimaginative, noncompetitive race. Why do you refuse to enjoy the opportunities that I have given you?"
O'Neill: "ENJOY?! What makes you think I enjoy watching my friends get killed?"
Daniel: "Or their parents die?"
Keeper: "You have both been given challenges to be met and conquered. You have it in you--why will you not partake?!"
O'Neill: "Why will you just not let us go?"
Keeper: "Go where? Where would you like to go? I can take you anywhere you can remember, anywhere you can imagine."
O'Neill: "Ok. We want to go free."
Carter: "So we're right. This is a simulated world."
Keeper: "It is a world completely inside your mind. Channeled, coordinated, and administered by myself, the Keeper."
Carter: "But how? How does it work?"
O'Neill: "I don't care how it works! I just want out of here!"
Keeper: "I cannot do that. The devices that enwrap you serve to nourish and stimulate your senses. The devices implanted in your brains channel experiences and imagination into and out of your mind."
Carter: "So we're trapped, with our brains hooked up like computers to some sort of network."
Keeper: "Yes. And your minds are very valuable to my residents because you enrich and add value to our own."
Daniel: "Wait a minute, wait a minute. How long have your residents been in this virtual world?"
Keeper: "Roughly 1,000 of your years."
O'Neill: "Well, we're certainly not going to stick around for the next 1,000 of anyone's years."
Daniel: "So until we came along, you've only had your own minds, your own experiences to provide scenarios for your virtual lives."
Keeper: "You're beginning to understand."
Daniel: "So...so what? We're like...we're like new software? I mean, imagine if you were locked in a room for 1,000 years with only a VCR, TV, and five movies. How long could you watch those five movies until you were bored silly? What you wouldn't give for just...four more."
Carter: "So you're using our minds, our memories, imaginations, dreams...for some sort of programming?!"
Keeper: "Actually, I can remove information from only two of your minds." Points to Teal'c. "His species' mind seems to protect against output, as does your own, madam."
Carter: "It does?"
Teal'c: "Perhaps because of the change in your mind the Goa'uld Jolinar of Molkshur left behind."
Keeper: "But no fear, there is no block against input into your minds. You two can enjoy our adventures and these two minds, they provide more than enough rich experience and imagination to provide years of entertainment for my residents."
O'Neill: "Well, I'm sorry. With al due respect to you fine folks, I don't give a damn about residents and I just want to get us out of here."
Keeper: "It is I that am sorry. For I am not able to accommodate your request. And I am sure you will be able to enjoy the many adventures that you will have here."
Daniel: "Why are your people in here, anyway? I mean, why don't you just go outside and get some new experiences of your own?"
Keeper: "We cannot leave our chambers. The world outside is uninhabitable. It has been poisoned and desecrated."
Teal'c: "You are mistaken. Your planet is a fertile garden world."
Keeper: "It is you who are mistaken, my alien friend. Our planet was destroyed by a chemical disaster 1,022 years ago. We were victims of our own technology, advancing faster than we could control it. At that time the few of us who were left placed our physical bodies in suspended animation."
Carter: "Good news. Your planet seems to have regenerated itself."
Keeper: "This is not true! I monitor all conditions at all times!"
Carter: "Well, then your monitoring conditions are wrong. It is beautiful out there."
O'Neill: "Of course, you already knew that, didn't you? The question is, why don't you want them to know?"
Keeper: "Residents must not leave the environment. The outside world is uninhabitable!"
O'Neill: "Who made you the warden here, huh?"
Keeper: "I don't understand."
Daniel: "Why are you the one running things here?"
Keeper: "The environment is my design. I am its creator, its keeper."
O'Neill: "So if your residents leave you lose control. That man is lying to you folks! He's got you imprisoned in..." The Keeper makes the residents disappear. "Oh. That's good. That's fair. Send them to where they can't hear the truth. Good."
Keeper: "I will not allow you to poison their minds!"
Daniel: "Um...if you keep us here, you won't be able to keep us from interacting with them for very long. I mean, especially if we're supposed to be new software for them."
Keeper: "Very well. You aren't wanted here anymore anyway." He waves his magic wand and the find themselves in the VR machines again.
Carter: "Does that seem just a little bit too easy?"
O'Neill: "Yes, it did. Now let's go home."

O'Neill: "Ok, General, without meaning, this time, to sound like a smartass, are you cracked?"

O'Neill: "Ok, that's enough. Let's just have a little look here, shall we?" He pushes Hammond's ear.
Hammond: "What are you doing, Colonel?"
O'Neill: "Oh, I'm looking for the edges of a mask!
Hammond: "What?"
O'Neill: "You're obviously not the real General Hammond."
Hammond: "Sit down, Colonel!"
O'Neill: "I don't think so, Bucko. The jig's up, we're onto you."
Hammond: "What are you talking about?"
Carter: "We're still on P7J 989."
O'Neill: "Oh, you betcha. This is just a new game, brought to you by our good friend..." he pats Hammond's head "...the Keeper."

Hammond: "Are you going back in or not, Colonel?"
O'Neill: "I'm already in!"

Daniel: "Where are we going?"
O'Neill: "Back through the Gate to show them what their planet looks like..." Daniel stares at him expectantly, "...in our memories..." Daniel continues to stare at him, "...before the Virtual Reality... Leave me alone."
(This is a really cute Daniel/Jack moment!)

Carter: "How long have you been coming out to tend this garden?"
Keeper: "Lovely, is it not?"
O'Neill: "HOW LONG?!"
Keeper, sighing: "Oh, many, many years."

Keeper: "They are ruining everything! Do you know they are actually picking the flowers?"
O'Neill, to Daniel: "This is real this time, isn't it?"
Keeper: "Do not pull that! You are ruining the garden. I told you they would ruin everything. First the garden, next the entire planet!"
O'Neill and Daniel: "It's real."

Prisoners

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